Information technology products and services supplier Data#3 has nominated higher costs and global uncertainty as its biggest challenges after rewarding shareholders with a record dividend following its best ever full-year result.

The company has opened offices in Brisbane and Sydney, with another to come in Melbourne before the end of the year, to manage the growing pains caused by a 27 per cent increase in permanent employee numbers to 638 staff. Contractor numbers also rose 27 per cent to 352.